Cross-Party Group on Digital in Wales Meeting – 28/01/2021 Minutes of the inaugural meeting of members of the Cross-Party Group on Digital in Wales, held on 28/01/2021 12:30pm via Zoom. Present: RhaI Rhun ap Iorwerth (Chair – MS for Ynys Mon) AD Alun Davies (Vice Chair – MS for Blaenau Gwent) LW Lee Waters (Welsh Government Minister) PaRh Pryderi ap Rhisiart (Menai Science Park – Secretariat) AS Alex Still (Hefin David MS’ Office) AW Alex Williams (Russell George MS’ Office) BW Bobby Williams (Loyalty Logistix) CE Carwyn Edwards (North Wales Tech) DL Dai Lloyd (MS for South Wales West) DP Dave Perkins (Bangor University) FJ Ffion Jones (North Wales Regional Skills Partnership) GL Garffild Lewis (Gogledd Creadigol) GH Geraint Hughes (Madryn Cyf) GJ Glyn Jones (Welsh Government Chief Digital Officer) HR Heledd Roberts (Rhun ap Iorwerth MS’ Office) HP Helen Parfitt (Helen Mary Jones MS’ Office) HY Huw Ynyr (Gwynedd Council) IP Iestyn Pierce (Bangor University) IWJ Ieuan Wyn Jones (Menai Science Park Chairman and DSP Centre) JP Janine Pepworth (Welsh Government) JT Jamie Thomas (Menai Science Park) KR Kieron Rees (Universities Wales) MR Mia Rees (Suzy Davies MS’ Office) NS Nick Speed (British Telecom) RC Rebecca Charnock (Aber Innovation) RG Rhodri Griffiths (Life Sciences Hub) RD Ryland Doyle (Mike Hedges MS’ Office) SR Sarah Rees (Bethan Sayed MS’ Office) Apologies: JS Jack Sargeant (MS for Alyn and Deeside) DJ Delyth Jewell (MS for South Wales East) LlG Llyr Gruffydd (MS for North Wales) Agenda Item Action 1. Welcome and Introduction to the Group. RhaI welcomed everybody to the group, and discussed establishing the group formally 2. Elect Officers and Agree Terms of Reference. AD nominated RhaI as Chair, seconded by DL, which RhaI accepted. RhaI nominated AD as Vice Chair. RhaI nominated Menai Science Park as Secretariat of the group, which was agreed by the group. The name ‘Cross-Party Group on Digital in Wales’ was formally adopted and Terms of Reference were shared in advance of the meeting and kept broad in in-line with the emerging digital strategy. AD, DL, and offices of Helen Mary Jones, Hefin David, Bethan Sayed, and Mike Hedges agreed to become members of the group. JS, DJ and LlG apologised for being unable to attend, but also wanted to be members of the group. 3. Presentation by the Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport on the Digital Strategy for Wales. LW outlined that shifting the focus away from just technology but to be about culture and people is at the heart of the Digital Strategy. Adding that the strategy has been published in draft as he is keen, in such a fast-moving field, to ‘kick the tyres’ and wants the flaws and gaps to be pointed out, which he hopes the CPG can help with. GJ led the presentation, seconding LW in stating that Welsh Government’s vision there to be challenged and that the CPG is well-placed to do that. GJ said that the aim of the Strategy was to improve quality of life, sustainability and economic growth, creating user-centred public services supported by effective leadership, data and a culture of innovation and collaboration. The six key focus areas noted were: Data and Collaboration; Digital Connectivity; Digital Inclusion; Digital Services; Digital Economy and Digital Skills. 4. Discussion following the Presentation. AD said he was grateful for Welsh Government’s leadership in this area and agreed there is a need to focus on culture of digital and the speed of change in the industry, adding that there is a significant need to improve digital infrastructure (broadband etc.) and incorporate the Welsh language into technological developments. GJ said that discussions are ongoing on the language front, particularly with Amazon and incorporating Welsh language in their products/services, and it was suggested that Amazon be invited to a future meeting of the CPG. LW added that digital is a means of improving things in terms of public service reform, giving better experience for everybody and freeing up resources, whilst NS said that gaps in the service available to the Welsh public is vastly improving and will be reduced to virtually nothing over the next Senedd term. PaRh said that he is very much interested in the economic impact M-SParc can make in the digital society, but that any progress made in Wales at any level will come back to developing people with the right skills from top to bottom and that has to be at forefront of any agenda, having the skill base to amplify the existing level of expertise. BW said that as a company they have found it very hard to recruit skills locally, regularly having to skill-up employees they recruit from local areas themselves. LW said he feels there is a skill deficit right across society and its a challenge for all of us. IP added that the skills needed now are so much more than they used to be some years ago and that the education system needs to reflect that. GH added that agriculture a prime area that could benefit from digital development in Wales, but that there is a real need to move quickly or the opportunities for Welsh companies will have disappeared in the next two years; LW agreed that there is massive potential in the sector. SR also asked if we have free school meals, then why not have free access to the internet for those on low incomes? As a final comment from LW, he again urged the CPG to please help Welsh Government make strategy better by responding to it. 5. Next steps. Complete the minutes and circulate before arranging a follow-up meeting to go into detail in specific areas post-election. .